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Loving someone is harder to do than hating them. Forgiving someone is harder to do than holding a grudge. Looking out for others is harder to do than looking out for yourself.
My father always told me that the things that matter in life are not easy. There's truth in that, I think. The thing that is frustrating for me, with respect to R/T, is that people will read the bible and come away with different conclusions. The people who I've aspired to be more like, the people who have moved me by their actions, have been those who read the bible and came away with a message of love and forgiveness. The problem is that so many more read it and come away with a message of divisiveness and hatred. The second group, whether or not they're the ones in power, are the ones maintaining the status quo currently.
So, as you've said, the message of the day is not one of acceptance. It's one of valuing the differences that distinguish individuals from one another rather than the individuals themselves. It's no surprise our society has been regressing. It's no surprise that messages of unity and solidarity have been drowned out by prejudice and stereotypes. It's easier to do. Appealing to people's fear and ego is easier than appealing to brotherhood and intellect.
Big changes take time. Big change is always two steps forward and three steps back. Right now we are backpeddling, and fast. But the thought that gives me hope is that it's easier to move the ball forward than it is the other way around. All it takes is one person, one event, one set of circumstances to give us that collective "A-Ha!" moment. Then it's another two steps forward.
It matters, ergo it's not easy.
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